Ramanattukara: The future of turf grounds, aimed at boosting local sports development, is under serious threat due to a combination of high maintenance costs, expensive upkeep, and dwindling revenues. These turf grounds, which were originally launched to support regional sports growth, are now grappling with a series of financial and operational challenges.

High electricity charges, prohibitive maintenance fees, and reduced playtime fees have all contributed to the struggle of maintaining the turf grounds. Some owners have also reported restrictions on night-time games in certain areas, which has added to the issues. In addition, many turf owners are resorting to selling their turf materials as scrap iron, and there is a growing trend of converting these grounds into land plots for sale.

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A new tax of ₹40-50 per square metre has been introduced for building tax on the land, further compounding the difficulties. Circulars related to this new charge have been issued to owners in some regions, leading to concerns that the situation may worsen.

According to the Turf Owners Association Kerala (T.O.A.K.), 1,235 turf grounds are currently registered across nine districts in the state. The association has been advocating for financial assistance and subsidies to support turf owners, particularly in procuring materials for the fields at subsidised rates.

Ranjith Rathnakaran, the secretary of the association, revealed that 129 turf grounds have ceased operations over the past five years, due to mounting challenges. Turf owners in districts such as Kozhikode, Palakkad, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Malappuram, Wayanad, Idukki, and Alappuzha have been facing similar difficulties. In Kozhikode, for instance, 300 turf fields have been registered, but eight have been shut down. In Malappuram, 40 out of 300 have closed, and in Thrissur, 25 out of 120 have stopped operating.

Financial strain has also affected the viability of turf fields in urban areas, where owners once earned up to ₹2.5 lakh monthly before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, they struggle to make ₹50,000 a month. In rural areas, the situation is even more dire, with fields that once earned ₹1.5 lakh now bringing in only ₹25,000-30,000.

The financial burden on turf owners is significant. It costs around ₹25 lakh to set up a turf for five-a-side football, and ₹50-60 lakh for seven-a-side fields. After five years of operation, maintaining a turf becomes nearly unaffordable due to high upkeep costs.

The turf initiative, which gained momentum in Kerala in 2017-18, was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a significant number of turf fields forced to shut down during the lockdown. The Turf Owners Association came into existence following the pandemic to address these issues and to advocate for solutions. However, many owners are still uncertain about the future, with financial concerns and regulatory changes threatening the sustainability of turf grounds in the state.

As the turf crisis deepens, the association continues to urge the state government to offer subsidies and support, ensuring the survival of these sports facilities that have played a crucial role in fostering local talent.